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Tesla’s quarter-end production and delivery blitz is in Plaid Mode

Credit: Gabeincal/YouTube

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Recent footage taken of the Fremont Factory suggests that Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) end-of-quarter production and delivery blitz is well underway. With mass numbers of Model 3 and Model Y being spotted in the factory premises and with the site seemingly operating like a well-tuned machine, it appears that Tesla is determined to make this quarter its best Q1 yet.  

The recent aerial footage was provided by drone operator Gabeincal, who has been observing Tesla’s Fremont sites over the past months. In the recent flyover, the drone operator was able to spot rows upon rows of Model 3 and Model Y waiting to be delivered. The facility’s holding lots seemed very busy as well, with numerous car carrier trucks loading Model 3s and Model Ys for delivery. 

Tesla’s end-of-quarter pushes have been almost expected among the electric vehicle community, especially over the past years when the company was only relying on the Fremont Factory to produce all its cars. This year, Gigafactory Shanghai, whose Model 3 and Model Y facilities are already building cars en masse, is able to augment Fremont’s numbers, perhaps allowing Tesla to hit the targets set forth by Wall Street. 

Wall Street appears to be setting the bar relatively high for the electric car maker. In a recent note, RBC Capital Markets estimated that Tesla would be delivering 170,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2021. RBC cited Gigafactory Shanghai as a notable contributor for this number, especially considering the facility’s ongoing ramp of the Model 3 and Model Y. 

RBC expects Tesla to deliver 164,800 Model 3/Y and only 5,300 Model S/X, though this estimate might be off considering that customer deliveries of the refreshed flagship sedan and SUV are yet to begin. The firm also expects Tesla to produce around 96,000 cars from Fremont and about 74,000 vehicles from Gigafactory Shanghai. 

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During the Q4 and FY 2020 earnings call, Elon Musk remarked that he is confident Tesla could maintain growth in excess of 50% per year for many years to come. Considering that Tesla delivered half a million cars in 2020, Musk’s target is quite ambitious, and it would require the company to deliver more vehicles every quarter than ever before. 

Watch a recent flyover of the Fremont Factory in the video below.

Disclaimer: I am long TSLA.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for news tips. Just send a message to tips@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla targets Bay Area airports as next step for Robotaxi rollout

The update was initially reported by Politico, which cited records that it reportedly obtained. 

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Credit: @AdanGuajardo/X

Tesla has expressed interest in operating its Robotaxi ride-hailing service in three of Silicon Valley’s busiest airports, as per the company’s communications with California regulators.

The update was initially reported by Politico, which cited records that it reportedly obtained. 

Key Robotaxi battleground

As per the publication, Casey Blaine, Tesla’s senior regulatory counsel, informed regulators in California that the electric vehicle maker was “initiating engagement with the following airports to secure the necessary approvals to conduct pick-ups/drop-offs: San Francisco International Airport, San Jose Mineta International Airport, and Oakland International Airport.”

High-traffic airports have long been a focal point for autonomous vehicle firms like Waymo, which recently secured permits to operate in San Jose and is progressing in San Francisco after a lengthy battle with labor groups. By pursuing airport access, Tesla seems to be hinting that it wants a share of the same market. Regulators confirmed that Tesla has opened discussions with each Bay Area airport, though no permits have been granted yet.

Regulator visit

California’s Public Utilities Commission, the state’s primary ride-hailing regulator, has reportedly engaged directly with Tesla in recent months. Agency officials reportedly visited Tesla’s Palo Alto offices to learn more about the company’s ride-hailing program and its technology. Agency spokesperson Terrie Prosper shared some insights about the matter. 

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“CPUC staff are aware of Tesla’s recently expanded Bay Area charter-party carrier service and associated app. As for any charter-party carrier regulated by the CPUC, staff engages to exchange information, promote safety, and monitor compliance with applicable rules and regulations. Among other things, we appreciate and expect Tesla and all carriers to properly and clearly represent its service to the public,” Proper noted.

Tesla has already allowed Bay Area riders to book trips through its Robotaxi app, which launched to select customers in July before opening publicly in September. Videos posted online show Tesla’s driverless cars are still operating with safety drivers, though Musk has suggested that the service could be fully driverless by the end of the year.

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Analyst: Elon Musk’s $1 trillion Tesla pay deal modest against robot market potential

Jonas highlighted Tesla’s longer-term ambitions in robotics as a key factor in his assessment.

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Credit: Tesla

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, one of Wall Street’s most ardent Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) bulls today, has described Elon Musk’s newly proposed $1 trillion performance-based compensation package as a “good deal” for investors. 

In a note shared this week, Jonas argued that the package helps align the interests of Musk and Tesla’s minority shareholders, despite its shockingly high headline number.

Future market opportunities

Jonas highlighted Tesla’s longer-term ambitions in robotics as a key factor in his assessment. “Yes, a trillion bucks is a big number, but (it) is rather modest compared to the size of the market opportunity,” Jonas wrote. He added that the humanoid robot market could ultimately surpass the size of today’s global labor market “by a significant multiple.”

“We have entertained scenarios where the humanoid robot market can exceed the size of today’s global labor market… by a significant multiple,” Jonas wrote, as shared on X by Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt.

The analyst likened the arrival of AI-powered robotics to the transformative effect of electricity, noting that “contemplating future global GDP before AI robots is like contemplating global GDP before electricity.” The Morgan Stanley analyst’s insights align with the idea that as much as 80% of Tesla’s future valuation could be tied to its Optimus humanoid robot program.

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Elon Musk’s pay package

Tesla’s board has tied Elon Musk’s proposed compensation package to some of the most ambitious targets in corporate history. The 2025 CEO Performance Award requires the automaker’s valuation to soar from roughly $1.1 trillion today to $8.5 trillion over the next decade, a level that would make Tesla the most valuable company in existence.

The plan also demands a leap in Tesla’s operating profit, from $17 billion in 2024 to $400 billion annually. It also ties the CEO’s compensation to a number of product milestones, including the delivery of 20 million vehicles in total, 10 million active Full Self-Driving subscriptions, 1 million Tesla Bots, and 1 million Robotaxis in operation. Tesla’s board emphasized that Musk’s leadership was fundamental to achieving such ambitious goals, with Chair Robyn Denholm noting the award would align the CEO’s incentives with long-term shareholder value.

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Tesla China posts strongest registrations of Q3 so far with first Model Y L deliveries

Tesla posted 14,300 insurance registrations in China during the week of September 1–7.

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Credit: Tesla China

Tesla posted 14,300 insurance registrations in China during the week of September 1–7, a 14.4% increase from the previous week’s 12,500 units. 

The figure marks Tesla’s highest weekly performance so far this quarter so far, despite the company’s year-over-year figures still being below 2024’s numbers.

Weekly registrations

The week’s registrations broke down to 5,000 Model 3s and 8,400 Model Ys, including the first 900 units of the newly launched Model Y L variant, as per estimates from industry watchers. On a quarterly basis, Tesla China is tracking 41.3% growth compared to the previous quarter, which bodes well for the company’s results this Q3 2025.

For the month of August, Tesla sold 57,152 vehicles in China, down 9.93% from the same period in 2024 but up 40.7% from July’s 40,617 units, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Year-to-date, Tesla’s China sales are 7.2% lower compared to the previous year.

Model Y L first deliveries

The week ending September 7 was the first week that included the newly released Model Y L, a six-seat extended wheelbase version of the company’s best-selling all-electric crossover. Industry watchers estimate that last week, the first 900 units of the Model Y L have been registered, though this number is expected to increase in the coming weeks as deliveries of the vehicle hit their pace.

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Citing information from a Tesla store in Beijing, Chinese media outlet Cailianshe stated that the Model Y L has been seeing a lot of interest among car buyers. “(The Model Y L) is selling very well. Since its launch, 120,000 orders have been received, with nearly 10,000 orders placed every day. The first batch of customers began receiving deliveries in the past two days,” a Tesla representative stated.

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